HB2681 was signed into Oregon law in the 2021 legislative session. Among other things, this bill basically stops huge portions of voter list maintenance. This bill is due to go into effect on Sept 25th, 2021. If it goes into effect, then no one will be required to keep their voter registration up to date or be required to vote for 'any period of time.' to stay on the Active voter list. Decades could pass before they vote. Oregon voter rolls will become dirty and bloated.
The current statute required voters to vote at least every 10 years and keep their registration up to date in order to be considered an active voter and get a ballot.
Here is the language the Secretary of State stated regarding the referendum (the whole HB2681 is available further down the page):
[Requires each county clerk to file annual report with Secretary of State identifying each voter who clerk moved to inactive status during previous calendar year and specifying reason for moving voter to inactive status.]
Prohibits moving voter to inactive status due to voter not voting or updating voter registration for any period of time. Reactivates any voter whose registration is currently inactive due to voter not voting or updating voter registration.
Requires county clerk, if voter moved to inactive status due to name change or signature on return identification envelope not matching signature in voter registration record, to mail voter notification of reason for inactive status and information on how voter can reactivate voter registration between 60 and 70 days before date of [both next] each primary election and [next] general election.
[Requires county clerk to mail all currently inactive voters for whom county clerk has valid address voter notification of inactive status between 60 and 70 days before date of both 2022 primary election and 2022 general election.]
We have a very short time to get the almost 75 thousand signatures by Sept 24th, 2021 that are required for this referendum. If we get Referendum 302 qualified then HB2681 will not go into effect on Sept 25, 2021 but will be placed on the 2022 ballot to be decided by the voters in Oregon.
Clean voter rolls are the hallmark of good elections. Let Oregon voters decide if they want this bill.
